But that's not the point. Actually it was all about safety, as Torres became the first major league pitcher to wear a protective cap approved by MLB back in January. He said he's had it for about a month, getting used to it while playing catch before trying it in a game.

“If it can save your life, why wouldn't you?" said Torres, who was with Tampa Bay last season when Rays pitcher Alex Cobb was struck on the ear by a line drive and suffered a concussion. "I'm not worried about how it looks if it works.”

There were 26 pitchers in baseball's 300-save club before Wednesday, an elite group headed by a right-hander who had the game's most devastating cut fastball (Mariano Rivera), another who had one of baseball's best changeups (Trevor Hoffman), and a left-hander who threw 98 mph (Billy Wagner).

A 5-2 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night proved costly for the Angels, who lost David Freese to a fractured right index finger, an injury that will sideline the third baseman for several weeks, and center fielder Daniel Robertson to right shoulder stiffness, an injury that is not serious.